Stowing mechanism



' Get. 15,1929. A. w. PLA-r1' 1,731,319

sfrowING MECHANISM Filed Feb. 13, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Stm/Mum,

srarn ri'rsNr ARCHIE W. LATT, DECEASED, LATE OF TOLEDO, OHIO, BY HAROLD PLATT, ADMIN- STBJATOR, F TOLEDO, OHO, ASSIG-NOR TO THE EDVJARD FORD PLATE GLASS CO.,

OF ROSSFORD, OHIO; A'CORPORATON OF OI-IO STOWING MECHANISM Application lcd February 13, 1928. Serial No. 53,940.

rThis invention relates to a stowing mechanism for handling plate glass or the like while in the plastic state.v Its general object is to provide improved means for controlling the movement of the stowing tool, whereby the transference of the plates by successive stages from the table into and through the leer is greatly facilitated. p

A more specific obj ect is to provide means for lowering the tool into position to engage the edge of the glass and to move it over a supporting surface during the active stroke of the tool, and means for raising the tool above the plane of the glass during itsreturn movement. This makes it possible to combine two or more tools, one arranged in rear of another and operated simultaneously, and to arrange several ovens in line.

The specific construction of the invention, its mode of operation, and the advantages resulting therefrom will be more'particularly explained in connection with the accompanying` drawings illustrating the same.

Tn the drawings: A

Figure 1 is a side elevation 0f a stowing mechanism constructed according to the invention, the adjacent end of the leer being shown in section; j

Fig. 2` is a'partialcross section taken on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1 and illustrating the means fer guiding and operating the rear stowing tool. y

Fig. 3 is a partial cross section taken on the line 3 3 of 1 and showing the means for guiding and operating the front stowtool.

YEig. il is al diagrammatic view illustrating the position of the stowing mechanism at the beginning of its forward movement,

5 is a diagrammatic View illustrating the position of the stowing mechanism as the stowing tools are lowered preparatory to enaging the glass.

vone of the track Fig. 6 is an enlarged cross sectional view The invention, as illustrated, is associated with the charging end 1 of a leer having a door 2 through which the glass plates 3, while still in the plastic state, are introduced into the first oven from a table l. There will usually be a series of these tables supported by wheels 5 on tracks 6 and adapted to receive the glass as it is delivered from the rolls.

The stowing` mechanism is supported by a suitable overhead runway which in its present embodiment comprises Lbeams 7 with channel-beams 8 secured to their lower faces and supporting tracks 9 on which a carriage 10 guided for movement to and fro. This carriage includes 'vertical side beams 11 'connectcd by transverse beams 12 and by longitudinal beams 13. The carriage 10 is provided with stub axles 14 carrying wheels 15 which ride on the tracks 9.'

The lowerbeams 12 and 13 support a platform 16 on which is mounted a motor 17.

This motor isconnected by a train of speed reduction gearing 1S to a shaft 19 which is v end of the leer. The motor is reversible andk at the will of the operator may be operated to wind. the cables about the drums 21 in one direction or the other to advance or retract the carriage 10.

i The beams 18 extend forwardly from the carriage for a considerable distance and support one or more stowing tools. As shown in the drawings, the rear stowing member comprises booms 25 mounted at their rear ends on shafts 26 carried by the beams 13 and supporting a tool 27 at their front ends. The front-- stowing member comprises booms 28 pivoted at their rear ends on shafts 29 mounted on the beams 13 and carrying a tool 30 at their front ends. Y

For controllingthe up and down movement of the tool 27, each boom 25 is connected vbetween its ends by a link 31 to ann 32 secured tea shaft whie a, is jcurnaled versely of the carriage. Another arm 32b extends from the shaft 32 at an angle to the arm 32L and is connected by a rod 33 to a bell crank 34 which is fulcrumed at 35 on the carriage. A link 35 has at one end a pin and slot connection 37 with the bell crank 34 and has at the other end a connection with one arm 33 of a three-armed lever 39 which is supported at on the carriage. Another arm 40 of the lever 39 carries a roller 41 which rides along the underside of a track 42 mounted on the channel beam 8. The third arm 43 of the lever 39 carries a pin or roller 44 at its free end, the purpose of which will be hereinafter Vmore fully explained.

For controlling the up and down movement of the tool 30 the intermediate portion of each boom 2S is connected by a link 46 to an arm 4Ha secured to a shaft 47 which is journaled transversely of the carriage. Another arm 47h extends from the shaft 47 at an angle to the arm 47n and is connected by a `rod 4S tov a bell crank 49 fulcrumed at 50 on the carriage. A connecting rod 5l has at one end a pin and slot connection 52 with the bell crank 49 and is connected at its other end to one arm 53 of a. three-armed lever 54 which is centrally pivoted, as at 54a, to the carriage. A second arm 55 of this lever carries a roller 56 which engages the underside of a track 57. The third arm 53 carries a pin or roller 59 at it-s free` end. Y

ln front of each three-armed lever, a spring 60 is mounted at one end on a pin 60ht and extends toward the lever between pins 60h.

As illustrated in Figs. l and 4, with the carriage moving forwardly vthe roller arms 40 and 55 are inclined forwardly and upwardly with the rollers engaging the tracks 42 and 57 respectively to maintain the tools 27 and 30 in raised position. The track 42 is provided with a switch (il. which is normally open, leaving a gap 52 intovwhich the roller 4l may ride. Likewise, the track 57 is provided with a switch 63 normally leaving a gap G4 into which the roller 56 may ride.` As the carriage advances, therefore, until the rollers 4l and 56 ride into the respective gaps this allows lever 38 and 53 to swing downwardly until the tools 27 and 30 engage the surface enl which the rests. This position is illustrated in Fig. 5.

As the carriage continues to move forwardly, the arms 43 and 53 swing upwardly until-the pins 44 and 59 engage the respective springs (50, placing` them under tension. As the rollers 4l and 55 reach the ends of their respective. tracks the tension of the springs GO car-.ses the roller arms to swing upwardly past the ends of the tracks, so that as the carriage begins itsreturn movement the arms 4() and 55 trail behind and are disposed at the same angle as during the first part of their advance movement, as shown in Fig. 4. As the rollers reach the switches 61 and 63 in their retractive movement the switches Close and permit the rollers to continue their movement rearwardly.

It will be seen, therefore, that when the stowing mechanism moves forwardly as above described, both tools will be raised until the front too-l passes over the first plate and the tools will then be lowered simultaneously so that two plates may be separately engaged and moved forwardly at the same time, as indicated in Fig. 5. Then the stowing mechanism has completed its forward movement and starts hackwardly both tools are simultaneously raised and held in raised position, as shown in Fig. 4, until they are withdrawn from the oven. y

Upon further retractive movement, the roller 41 passes beyond the end of track 42, permitting the tool 27 to rest upon the sur'- face of the casting table while the tool 3G is still raised. moves forwardly the tool 27 transfers the nextplate from the casting table into the first oven. This second forward stroke is completed when the roller 4l reaches the gap G2 and, as the carriage is again retracted, both tools are raised and withdrawn from the oven to their initial position, preparatory to a repetition of the rstdescribed operation.

From the foregoing description, it will be seen that the stowing mechanism herein described is simple and economical in construction and ethcient in its operation. While one embodiment of the invention has been shown and described, and its mode of operation, in considerable detail, it is apparent that the same maybe modified to a considerable extent without departing materially from the scope of the appended claims.

-l/"Vhat is claimed is:

1.11.1 a stowing mechanism, theA combination with 'a carriage and-means for moving the carriage forwardly and backwardly for a Then'as the carriage againV predetermined distance, of a tool supportingl member mounted on said carriage and movable upwardly and downwardly between two limit-ing positions, a track adjacent the path of the carriage, and means cooperating with said track for maintaining said member in its uppermost position during a definitely predetermined portion of the carriage travel,

and for maintaining said member in its lower- Y most position diuing the remainder of carriage travel. l

2. In a stowing mechanism, the combination with a carriage andmeans for moving the carriage forwardly and backwardly lfor a predetermined distance', of a tool supporting the member mounted on said carriage,a track adjacent the path of the carriage, and means cooperating with said track for automaticall' moving said supporting rmember upwardly at o-ne point in its travel and downwardly another point in its travel, and for preventing upward or downward movement of said member at any other point.

3. ln a stowing mechanism, the combination with a carriage and means for moving the carriage forwardly and backwardly for a predetermined distance, of a tool supporting member mounted on said carriage, means for moving said men'iber upwardly and maintaining it in that position during all of the movement of the carriage in one direction and part of its movement in the other direction, and means for moving said member downwardly and main ning it in down position during the reniaining part of the carriage travel in the last mentioned direction.

l. ln a stowing mechanism, the combination with a carriage and means for moving the carriage forwardly and backwardy, of a tool supporting member mounted on said carriage, means for automatically moving said member upwardly at the completion of the forware movement of the carriage and for maintaining said member in that position during all of its rearward movement and during the first part of its forward movement, and means for automatically moving said member downwardly at an intermediate point in its forward movement and maintaining it in that position until the forward movement is completed.

, 5. ln a stowing mechanism, the combination with a carriage and means for moving said carriage forwardly and backwardly for a predetermined distance, of a forwardly projecting stig arm pivotally connected at its rear end to the carriage, means for limiting pivotal movement of the arm both upwardly and downwardly, a track adjacent the path of the carriage, a switch connected with said track, and means cooperating with said `track and switch for maintaining said arm in its uppermost position during a predetermined portion of its travel, for automatically shifting said arm to its lowermost position at the conclusion of such portion. of its travel, and for maintaining said arm in its lowermost po- `sition during the remainder of its travel;

G. ln a stowing mechanism, the combina tion with a carriage and means for moving said carriage forwardly and hackwardly for a predetermined distance, of a forwardly projecting' stiff arm pivotally connected Vat its Vrear end to the'carriage, means for limiting thepivotal movement of the arm both up,- wardly and downwardly, a track adjacent the path of thev carriage, a switch connected with said track, and means cooperating with said track and switch for automatically swinging said arm upwardly at one point in Y its travel and downwardly at 'another point in its travel, and for' preventing pivotal novement of said arm at any other point.A 7.y ln a stowing mechanism, the combination with a carriage and means for-moving said carriage forwardly and backwardly, of

a forwardly projecting stiff arm pivotally connected at its rear end to the carriage, means for swinging said arm upwardly and maintaining it in that position during all of its longitudinal movement in one direction and part of its longitudinal movement in the other direction, and means for swinging said army downwardly and maintaining it in down position during the remaining partof its movement in the last mentioned direction.

8. In a stowing mechanism, the combination with a carriage and means for moving said carriage forwardly and backwardly, of a forwardly projecting stiff arm pivotally connected at its rear end to the carriage, means for automatically swinging said arm upwardly at the completion of its forward travel and for maintaining it in that position during all of its rearward movement and during the first part of its forward movement, andv means for automatically swinging said arm downwardly at an intermediate point in its forward travel and maintaining it in that position until the forward travel is complete'd.

9. In a stowing mechanism, the combination with a carriage and means for moving said carriage forwardly and backwardly, of a stiff arm pivotally connected at its rear end to said carriage, a member pivotally mounted on the carriage and having three radial arms, means for limiting the aivotal movement of said stili arm, link mechanism connecting one of said radial arms to the stiff7 arm at a distance from the rear end thereof, and means cooperating withy the other two radial arms to shift said stiff arm upwardly at one point in its travel and downwardly at another point and for preventing pivotal movement of the vstiff arm at any other point. i

l0. In a stowing mechanism, the combination with a carriage and means for moving said carriage forwardly and backwardly, of a stid arm pivotally connected at its rear end to said carriage, a member pivotally mounted on the carriage and having three radial arms, link mechanism connecting one of said radial arms to the stiff arm at a distance from the rear end thereof, a track on which the second radial arm is guided, and means cooperating with the second and third radial arms for rocking said member to shift said stili ari upwardly at one point in its travel and downwardly vat another point and for preventing pivotal movement of the stiff arm at any other point,

11. In a stowing mechanism, the combination with a carriage and means for moving said carriage forwardly and backwardly for a predetermined distance, of a stiff arm pivotally mounted on said carriage, a track, a control member mounted on the carriage and riding on the track and operatively connected to said stiff arm, and means in the path of `said control member for shifting its relative ILL.

position at predetermined points to swing the stili" arm upwardly and downwardly respectively.

12. ln a stowing mechanism, the combination with a carriage and means for moving said carri age forwardly and backwardly, of a stiff arm pivotally mounted on said carri age, a track, a control lever pivotally mounted on the carriage, means operatively connecting the lever with said still arm to control the movement of the latter about its pivot, said lever having an arm riding on said track and held at an oblique angle thereto, means for rocking; said lever at a Certain point in its travel to change said angle and swing said stiff arm downwardly, and means for returning said lever at another point in its travel to swine' said stilf arm u'nvardl ln a stowing mechanism, the combination with a carriage and ineans for moving said. carriage forwardly and baclrwardly, of a track adjacent the pathof said carriage, a lever pivoted to said lcarriage and having an arm engaging;l said traclr, said arm being inclincd forwardly from its pivot toward the track during; a portion of the travel of said cari" e in one direction, means for then reversing the position of the lever so that it inclines rearwardly during` the remainder of the travel of the carriage in that direction, and means for then restoring` the position of the lever and holding it in that position during` all of the return travel.

14e. ln a stowing mechanism, the combination with a carriage and means for moving said carriage forwardly and baclrwardly, of a tool mounted on said carriage and relatively movable to either one of two positions, a control lever, means connecting said lever' with sai d tool to control the position of the latter, a tra eli on which the lever is guided in either one of two positions to maintain the tool in its corresponding position, and a switch connected with said traclr and operable to shift said lever from one position to another as it passes said switch in one direction but not whim. passes in the other direction.

15i In. a stowingz,` mechanism, the combination with a carriage and means for moving said carriage forwardly and backwardly, of a tool mounted on said carriage and relatively movable to either one of two positions, a control lever, zleans connecting' said lever with the tool to control the position of the latter, a track on which the lever is guided in either' one of two positions to maintain the tool in its corresponding position, means for shifting the control lever from one position tothe 'other at the completion of its travel in one direction, and a switch connected with said traelr and effective during the travel of said carriage in one direction but not in the other direction, to again shift the lever.

a stowmg mechanism, the combinaa carriage and means for moving in said members in their uppermost position during; a definitely predetermined portion of their longitudinal travel, and means for maintaining said members in their lowermost position durin the remainder of their travel.

17. ln a stowing` mechanism, the combination with a carriage and means for moving the carriage forwardly and backwardly, of a plurality of like tool supporting` members mounted on Isaid carriage with one member projecting in advance of theother and both movable upwardly and downwardly between two limiting positions, means for simultaneously moving said members upwardly at one point in the travel of the carriage and downwardly at another point in its travel, and means for preventing upward or downward movement of said members at any other point.

18. ln a stowing mechanism, the combination with a carriage and means for moving the carriage forwardly and backwardly, of ,Y a plurality of like tool supporting members mounted on said carriage with one member projecting in advance of the other and both movable upwardly and downwardly between two limiting positions, meansA for simultaneously moving said members upwardly and maintaining them in that position'during; all of the travel of the carriage in one direction and part of its travel in the other direction, and means for simultaneously moving said members downwardly and maintaining,r them in down position during the other'part of the carriage travel in the .last mentioned direction.

19. In a stowing' mechanism, the combination with a carriage and means for moving,` the carriage forwardly and ybackwardly, of a plurality of like tool supporting members mounted on said carriage with one member projecting in advance of the other and both Y movable upwardly and downwardly, means for simultaneously moving said members upwardly at the completion of Vthe forward movement of the carriage and for maintaining; them in that position during all of the rearward travel and during the first part ofV the forward'travel, and means for simultaneously moving` said members downwardly at an intermediate point in their forward movement and maintaining,` them in that position until the forwardy travel is completed.

ln testimony whereof l have hereunto signed my name to this specification.

HAROLD. R. PLATT, Administrator lof t/e 0;" W,

Flan", Y Y 

